Crowded sidewalk on Stockton Street in Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, February 15, 2015.

Crowded sidewalk on Stockton Street in Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, February 15, 2015.

Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

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Thousands of fans gather in Oakland for the Golden State Warriors victory parade and rally in Oakland, Calif. Alameda County, where Oakland is located, is one of the most populous counties in California. Seventy percent of the state lives in nine of the 58 counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento and Contra Costa. Each of those counties has more than one million residents. less

Thousands of fans gather in Oakland for the Golden State Warriors victory parade and rally in Oakland, Calif. Alameda County, where Oakland is located, is one of the most populous counties in ... more

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

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San Diego was one of five Southern California counties that had the highest population gain in the state. The others were Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and San Bernardo — which each added at least 20,000 residents and made up half of the state’s growth. less

San Diego was one of five Southern California counties that had the highest population gain in the state. The others were Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and San Bernardo — which each added at least 20,000 ... more

Photo: Ron And Patty Thomas Photography, Getty Images

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Los Angeles County houses a quarter of Californians, the largest portion of the state's population.

Los Angeles County houses a quarter of Californians, the largest portion of the state's population.

Photo: David McNew, Getty Images

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San Francisco's population grew .91 percent to 880,000 residents in the last year.

San Francisco's population grew .91 percent to 880,000 residents in the last year.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

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GALLERY: The best and worst California cities to raise a family, according to WalletHub

GALLERY: The best and worst California cities to raise a family, according to WalletHub

Photo: Sean Duan, Getty Images

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Fremont, Calif.

Overall ranking: 5

Family fun rank: 133

Health and safety rank: 1

Education and childcare rank: 24

Affordability rank: 33

Socioeconomics rank: 1

Fremont, Calif.

Overall ranking: 5

Family fun rank: 133

Health and safety rank: 1

Education and childcare rank: 24

Affordability rank: 33

Socioeconomics rank: 1

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

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San Francisco

Overall ranking: 39

Family fun rank: 16

Health and safety rank: 62

Education and childcare rank: 25

Affordability rank: 94

Socioeconomics rank: 61

San Francisco

Overall ranking: 39

Family fun rank: 16

Health and safety rank: 62

Education and childcare rank: 25

Affordability rank: 94

Socioeconomics rank: 61

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

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San Jose, Calif.

Overall ranking: 13

Family fun rank: 47

Health and safety rank: 12

Education and childcare rank: 28

Affordability rank: 54

Socioeconomics rank: 8

San Jose, Calif.

Overall ranking: 13

Family fun rank: 47

Health and safety rank: 12

Education and childcare rank: 28

Affordability rank: 54

Socioeconomics rank: 8

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Santa Rosa, Calif.

Overall ranking: 28

Family fun rank: 88

Health and safety rank: 14

Education and childcare rank: 46

Affordability rank: 77

Socioeconomics rank: 23

Santa Rosa, Calif.

Overall ranking: 28

Family fun rank: 88

Health and safety rank: 14

Education and childcare rank: 46

Affordability rank: 77

Socioeconomics rank: 23

Photo: Alvin Jornada, Special To The Chronicle

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Sacramento, Calif.

Overall ranking: 38

Family fun rank: 9

Health and safety rank: 49

Education and childcare rank: 60

Affordability rank: 48

Socioeconomics rank: 109

Sacramento, Calif.

Overall ranking: 38

Family fun rank: 9

Health and safety rank: 49

Education and childcare rank: 60

Affordability rank: 48

Socioeconomics rank: 109

Photo: Max Whittaker/Prime, Special To The Chronicle

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Irvine, Calif.

Overall ranking: 9

Family fun rank: 58

Health and safety rank: 3

Education and childcare rank: 65

Affordability rank: 30

Socioeconomics rank: 3

Irvine, Calif.

Overall ranking: 9

Family fun rank: 58

Health and safety rank: 3

Education and childcare rank: 65

Affordability rank: 30

Socioeconomics rank: 3

Photo: Don Bartletti/LA Times Via Getty Images, SFHealth17

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San Diego

Overall ranking: 24

Family fun rank: 8

Health and safety rank: 34

Education and childcare rank: 58

Affordability rank: 76

Socioeconomics rank: 49

San Diego

Overall ranking: 24

Family fun rank: 8

Health and safety rank: 34

Education and childcare rank: 58

Affordability rank: 76

Socioeconomics rank: 49

Photo: Ron And Patty Thomas Photography, Getty Images

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Huntington Beach, Calif.

Overall ranking: 25

Family fun rank: 142

Health and safety rank: 28

Education and childcare rank: 67

Affordability rank: 50

Socioeconomics rank: 5

Huntington Beach, Calif.

Overall ranking: 25

Family fun rank: 142

Health and safety rank: 28

Education and childcare rank: 67

Affordability rank: 50

Socioeconomics rank: 5

Photo: Grant Hindsley, Associated Press

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Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Overall ranking: 36

Family fun rank: 116

Health and safety rank: 24

Education and childcare rank: 95

Affordability rank: 60

Socioeconomics rank: 6

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Overall ranking: 36

Family fun rank: 116

Health and safety rank: 24

Education and childcare rank: 95

Affordability rank: 60

Socioeconomics rank: 6

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Santa Clarita, Calif.

Overall ranking: 52

Family fun rank: 134

Health and safety rank: 22

Education and childcare rank: 68

Affordability rank: 87

Socioeconomics rank: 41

Santa Clarita, Calif.

Overall ranking: 52

Family fun rank: 134

Health and safety rank: 22

Education and childcare rank: 68

Affordability rank: 87

Socioeconomics rank: 41

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Oceanside, Calif.

Overall ranking: 56

Family fun rank: 140

Health and safety rank: 40

Education and childcare rank: 62

Affordability rank: 98

Socioeconomics rank: 17

Oceanside, Calif.

Overall ranking: 56

Family fun rank: 140

Health and safety rank: 40

Education and childcare rank: 62

Affordability rank: 98

Socioeconomics rank: 17

Photo: Joe Polillio/Getty Images

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Chula Vista, Calif.

Overall ranking: 125

Family fun rank: 9

Health and safety rank: 59

Education and childcare rank: 103

Affordability rank: 18

Socioeconomics rank: 5

Chula Vista, Calif.

Overall ranking: 125

Family fun rank: 9

Health and safety rank: 59

Education and childcare rank: 103

Affordability rank: 18

Socioeconomics rank: 5

Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

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Modesto, Calif.

Overall ranking: 73

Family fun rank: 65

Health and safety rank: 130

Education and childcare rank: 94

Affordability rank: 49

Socioeconomics rank: 53

Modesto, Calif.

Overall ranking: 73

Family fun rank: 65

Health and safety rank: 130

Education and childcare rank: 94

Affordability rank: 49

Socioeconomics rank: 53

Photo: Frederic Larson, SFC

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Garden Grove, Calif.

Overall ranking: 79

Family fun rank: 76

Health and safety rank: 23

Education and childcare rank: 80

Affordability rank: 137

Socioeconomics rank: 21

Garden Grove, Calif.

Overall ranking: 79

Family fun rank: 76

Health and safety rank: 23

Education and childcare rank: 80

Affordability rank: 137

Socioeconomics rank: 21

Photo: Damian Dovarganes, AP

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Glendale, Calif.

Overall ranking: 81

Family fun rank: 129

Health and safety rank: 10

Education and childcare rank: 79

Affordability rank: 141

Socioeconomics rank: 10

Glendale, Calif.

Overall ranking: 81

Family fun rank: 129

Health and safety rank: 10

Education and childcare rank: 79

Affordability rank: 141

Socioeconomics rank: 10

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Bakersfield, Calif.

Overall ranking: 87

Family fun rank: 32

Health and safety rank: 120

Education and childcare rank: 108

Affordability rank: 79

Socioeconomics rank: 58

Bakersfield, Calif.

Overall ranking: 87

Family fun rank: 32

Health and safety rank: 120

Education and childcare rank: 108

Affordability rank: 79

Socioeconomics rank: 58

Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle

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Fontana, Calif.

Overall ranking: 91

Family fun rank: 67

Health and safety rank: 56

Education and childcare rank: 102

Affordability rank: 127

Socioeconomics rank: 30

Fontana, Calif.

Overall ranking: 91

Family fun rank: 67

Health and safety rank: 56

Education and childcare rank: 102

Affordability rank: 127

Socioeconomics rank: 30

Photo: Mark Williamson, Getty Images

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Los Angeles

Overall ranking: 92

Family fun rank: 1

Health and safety rank: 73

Education and childcare rank: 84

Affordability rank: 144

Socioeconomics rank: 99

Los Angeles

Overall ranking: 92

Family fun rank: 1

Health and safety rank: 73

Education and childcare rank: 84

Affordability rank: 144

Socioeconomics rank: 99

Photo: Nick Ut, Associated Press

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Oxnard, Calif.

Overall ranking: 94

Family fun rank: 54

Health and safety rank: 32

Education and childcare rank: 74

Affordability rank: 142

Socioeconomics rank: 44

Oxnard, Calif.

Overall ranking: 94

Family fun rank: 54

Health and safety rank: 32

Education and childcare rank: 74

Affordability rank: 142

Socioeconomics rank: 44

Photo: Kyle Sparks, Getty Images

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Anaheim, Calif.

Overall ranking: 95

Family fun rank: 64

Health and safety rank: 36

Education and childcare rank: 78

Affordability rank: 140

Socioeconomics rank: 22

Anaheim, Calif.

Overall ranking: 95

Family fun rank: 64

Health and safety rank: 36

Education and childcare rank: 78

Affordability rank: 140

Socioeconomics rank: 22

Photo: Gary Coronado, TNS

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California’s population: 20 million in 1970, nearly 40 million now

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SACRAMENTO — If it seems more crowded in California, that’s because it is.

California’s population is nearly 40 million, a number that has steadily grown despite birth rates declining to the fourth-lowest level in more than a century, according to state estimates released Thursday.

State Department of Finance data showed that between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, California’s population grew by 301,000 people to 39.6 million, a growth rate of nearly 1 percent. That’s an increase of 2.4 million people since 2010 and double the number of residents who lived in California in 1970.

“The most important factor for the (population) increase is there are more births than deaths,” said Phuong Nguyen, a Department of Finance researcher.

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In the past year, the state welcomed 486,000 babies, while saying goodbye to 265,000 people who died, with the net increase accounting for most of the population growth.

The birth rate in the state declined from 13.8 births per 1,000 people in 2010 to 12.3 births per 1,000 people in 2017. At the same time, the number of deaths per 1,000 people has increased from 6.2 in 2010 to 6.7 today due to the aging Baby Boomer population.

International migration accounted for the second-largest source of the state’s population growth, Nguyen said. There was a net increase of 80,000 people who moved to California — including people moving from other countries and other states.

Still, California has seen more people move to other states than move in from other states since 2000, with that trend continuing last year but at a slower pace. The net number of people who left for other states dropped from 164,000 in 2016 to 105,000 this year.

Other highlights from the data include:

•Seventy percent of the state lives in nine of the 58 counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento and Contra Costa. Each of those counties has more than 1 million residents.

•Five Southern California counties had the highest population gains — Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Orange and San Bernardino — which each added at least 20,000 residents and made up half of the state’s growth.

•A quarter of the state lives in Los Angeles County, which has 10.2 million people. The least populous county is Alpine, which has 1,141 residents. Alpine had four births and 13 deaths in the past year.

•Santa Clara, the most populated of the nine Bay Area counties, saw its population rise 0.65 percent to 1.9 million residents. San Francisco grew 0.91 percent to 880,000 residents.